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May 10, 2024 Clouds | 55°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part II REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS
  3. Title I TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY
  4. Chapter 186 ESTATES FOR YEARS AND AT WILL
  5. Section 31 Notice to quit for nonpayment of rent

Section 31

Section 31: Notice to quit for nonpayment of rent

  Section 31. (a) A notice to quit for nonpayment of rent given in writing by a landlord to a residential tenant pursuant to this chapter shall be accompanied by a form that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) documentation of any agreements between the tenant and landlord for the tenant to repay the landlord for nonpayment of rent; and (ii) information on: (1) rental assistance programs including, but not limited to, the residential assistance for families in transition program; (2) applicable trial court rules, standing orders or emergency administrative orders pertaining to actions for summary process; and (3) any relevant federal or state legal restrictions on residential evictions. The form shall also prominently display the following statement:

  "THIS NOTICE TO QUIT IS NOT AN EVICTION. YOU DO NOT NEED TO IMMEDIATELY LEAVE YOUR UNIT. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A LEGAL PROCEEDING IN WHICH YOU CAN DEFEND AGAINST THE EVICTION. ONLY A COURT ORDER CAN FORCE YOU TO LEAVE YOUR UNIT.''

[ Subsection (b) effective until May 30, 2023. For text effective May 30, 2023, see below.]

  (b) The executive office of housing and economic development shall develop the form required pursuant to this section and make it publicly available on its website. The information in clause (ii) of subsection (a) shall be made available in the 5 most common languages spoken in the commonwealth in addition to English. No court having jurisdiction over an action for summary process pursuant to chapter 239, including the Boston municipal court department, shall, in an eviction for nonpayment of rent for a residential dwelling unit, accept for filing a writ, summons or complaint without proof of delivery of the form required under this section.

[ Subsection (b) as amended by 2023, 7, Sec. 296 effective May 30, 2023. See 2023, 7, Sec. 298. For text effective until May 30, 2023, see above.]

  (b) The executive office of housing and livable communities shall develop the form required pursuant to this section and make it publicly available on its website. The information in clause (ii) of subsection (a) shall be made available in the 5 most common languages spoken in the commonwealth in addition to English. No court having jurisdiction over an action for summary process pursuant to chapter 239, including the Boston municipal court department, shall, in an eviction for nonpayment of rent for a residential dwelling unit, accept for filing a writ, summons or complaint without proof of delivery of the form required under this section.